Democrats are seizing on this week’s ruling outlawing nearly all abortions in Arizona to launch a major advertising effort in the crucial swing state. President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign reports it is spending seven figures to air ads on TV and digital platforms in Arizona highlighting reproductive rights.
Arizona's Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled the state should enforce a law dating to 1864 that outlaws abortions, except in cases where a pregnant person's life is at risk.
The new Biden campaign ads tie former president Donald Trump to restrictive abortion laws that have gone into effect around the country since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. Trump appointed three of the justices who decided that case, which returned abortion regulating powers to states.
"Because of Donald Trump, millions of women lost the fundamental freedom to control their own bodies. Now, women’s lives are in danger because of that," Biden says in one of the ads.
Another ad features testimonial from a Texas woman who was initially denied medical care during a miscarriage because of that state's abortion restrictions.
The Democratic National Committee is also posting billboards in English and Spanish along the I-17, Loop 202 and Loop 101 freeways around Phoenix.
The signs say, "Abortion is banned in Arizona thanks to Donald Trump. He won't stop until it's banned nationwide."
Trump, who narrowly lost Arizona in 2020, has said he is proud that justices he nominated to the Supreme Court voted to overturn Roe v. Wade. He now says he does not support a national abortion ban. He said this week he believes Arizona’s 1864 law goes too far, but he has not said what kind of law he thinks the state should enforce.
More stories from KJZZ
- Arizona Supreme Court allows near-total abortion ban from 1864 to take effect
- These Arizona GOP lawmakers voted to support 1864 abortion law. Now, they want to repeal it
- After Arizona Supreme Court ruling, Kari Lake denounces near-total abortion ban she once supported
- A timeline of abortion rights in Arizona, 1864 to today
- Find full coverage of abortion in Arizona from KJZZ
